CABLE BEACH, Bahamas — Daniel Gordon has long been courted by the Jamaica national football set-up, but until now, they weren't able to collar him.

This newspaper, too, has pursued the German-born Jamaican, but he has proved elusive.

Both organisations finally have their man for different purposes, of course.

"I am very proud to be here and I just need to get to know the team and I look forward to the next weeks and I will do my best to perform for the team," said the 6ft 4inch player who switches comfortably from a midfielder to a defender.

Gordon, 28, whose ancestral ties to Jamaica are with his grandparents, says now that he's in the team it's time for business.

"I know this team has a high level and it's a good team with a future and I hope I can help the team because that's why I am here. I know that Jamaica has a chance to go to Brazil 2014 and that's what we are all working for," said Gordon, who arrived Monday night for a two-match, 12-day camp here.

Gordon, a former Borrusia Dortmund player who has passed through the club's ranks to the senior level, could be in the reckoning for central defensive duties for upcoming World Cup qualifying matches, especially that the solid Nyron Nosworthy is out injured.

"I will have to find out what the team needs and I will only know that when I play with the team, so we can know each other better. I think I bring my experience and best qualities in the defence, and if given the chance, I want to give the team 100 per cent," said the Karlsruher SC man, whose club was just promoted to League Two in Germany.

With a triple-bill of World Cup qualifying matches in June — Mexico on the 4th, USA 7th and Honduras on the 11th — Gordon says he's looking forward to playing a role on this intriguing journey, as the Boyz set their sights on Brazil 2014.

"It will be a pleasure to play for Jamaica and to wear the jersey... it would be a dream to get to Brazil 2014 and we want to make that dream come true," Gordon noted.

The towering Gordon said he would cherish every match he plays for Jamaica, but said the Tottenham game at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium here on Thursday would be a special thrill for him.

"Tottenham Hotspur is a big club in Europe and everybody knows about them, and I am looking forward to playing the game, and we will just have to wait and see what the team will do," he told the Jamaica Observer.

Gordon says that if he gives a good performance against Spurs and they wanted to sign him, it would be as easy as ABC.

"I would have to say that German football has become very strong and popular and at a very high level, but I must say that English football is very good," he said, laughing his heart out.

Born in Dortmund and having played at the youth and senior levels for Borussia, Gordon says he will definitely be cheering them on in the Champions League final against German giants Bayern Munich on Saturday.

"I was born in Dortmund, so I am close to Dortmund and the club is close to my heart, so I must say that I am proud where the team is after they have done a good season and I hope they will win the Champions League this year," he said.

Daniel's father, Gary Gordon, a British ex-soldier, works as a youth coach at Borussia Dortmund and was influential in guiding his son's football development.

"When I was young he told me to play football because that's what he expected from me and I am happy for that, as he has always given me the chance to play football and he was always beside me, plus the rest of my family supports me," Daniel explained.

The younger Gordon said now that he's officially a documented Jamaican, he wants to learn as much as he can about the culture, as he was in the island only once, so far back that he has no recollection of the occasion.

"I have been to Jamaica once, years ago, my family moved to the States and England, so I have never been close, and I don't know a lot about Jamaica, but now I have the chance I want to get to know Jamaica... but first of all I am here to play football and to be successful with the team," concluded Gordon, who also had a stint at FSV Frankfurt.

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